Apparatus and method for constrained selection of favorite channels

ABSTRACT

An interactive program guide system is provided in which an interactive program guide offers a user access to content from multiple available media types. The program guide system provides for designating a preferred media type which reflects the user&#39;s interests. The program guide system also provides the user with the option of designating favorite channels. The user is subsequently allowed to navigate among only favorite channels of the preferred media type.

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/823,421, filed Jun. 27, 2007, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/917,860, filed Aug. 13, 2004, which is acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/375,901, filed Aug.17, 1999 which claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 60/097,507, filed Aug. 21, 1998. All these prior applications arehereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to interactive program guide systems, and moreparticularly, to program guide systems that provide users with channelsfrom a plurality of media such as television, audio, video-on-demand,data, or games, and in which user's access to the programming or programlistings may be constrained to a preferred single medium or subset ofthe available media.

Cable, satellite and broadcast systems provide users with a large numberof television channels. Moreover, these systems are able providechannels in other media, such as digital audio (e.g., DMX) channels,video-on-demand channels, game channels, and data channels. Users havetraditionally consulted printed program schedules to determine theprograms being broadcast at a particular time. More recently,interactive electronic program guides have been developed that allowprogram information to be displayed on a user's television, for example.

Interactive program guides are typically implemented on set-top boxes.Such program guides allow users to view program listings in differentdisplay formats. For example, a user may instruct the program guide todisplay a grid or table of program listings organized in achannel-ordered or a time-ordered list. Users may also search and sortprogram listings by genre (e.g., movies, sports, etc.) or by title(i.e., alphabetically). A user may obtain additional information for aprogram by placing a highlight region on a desired program listing andpressing an “info” button. The user may purchase a pay program from theprogram guide by placing the highlight region on a program listing andpressing an “OK” button. Some systems allow the user to select a programfor recording by placing the highlight region on a program listing andpressing a “record” button.

One approach to dealing with the channel navigation problems created bythe increasing large number of television channels is described inMichael D. Ellis et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/034,934,entitled PROGRAM GUIDE SYSTEM WITH PREFERENCE PROFILES, filed on Mar. 4,1998, which is incorporated by reference herein.

Because there are so many communication channels available, particularlywith cable and satellite systems, program guides have been developedthat allow users to select favorite channels. During tuning, the programguide may allow the user to tune to favorite channels only, whileskipping other channels. Alternatively, a display screen containingprogram listings may be organized in a way that reflects which channelsare favorites. For example, a table of program listings may contain onlyfavorite channels and other channels may be suppressed from view.According to another approach, program listings for available channelsare displayed. However, when the user scans through the table of programlistings, the cursor control, which highlights a program and allows theuser to make a selection, will advance among the favorite channels andskip over the other channels.

The increasing number of new channels has not been limited to televisionchannels. Cable and satellite systems in particular are being used tocarry channels relating to various types of media. These newer types ofmedia, such as digital audio, video-on-demand, game and data channels,are typically treated identically to television channels. Thus, nodistinction is made by typical prior art program guide when the userselects an audio channel as a favorite as opposed to a televisionchannel, for example. A program guide feature, such as a “flip” featurethat allows the user to tune to favorite channels, may arbitrarilyaccess both audio and television channels in a random sequence when theuser may only be interested in selecting a television channel at thattime, and have no interest in the audio channels. In addition, therandom sequence of audio and video programming may be confusing to theuser. Similarly, if the user consults the program guide to display alist of favorite television programming, the program guide may displayboth television programming as well as audio programming. The user isthus required to view program listings which are of no immediateinterest and which may make the program selection process more tedious.

Thus, what is needed is a sophisticated way in which the program guidemay organize and access favorite channels relating to a plurality ofdifferent media, in order to provide programming responsive to theuser's interests.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a program guidesystem with increased capability to discriminate among favorite channelsrelating to a plurality of different media.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These and other objects of the invention are accomplished in accordancewith the principles of the present invention by providing an interactiveprogram guide system implemented on user multi-media equipment whichallows the user to select favorite channels, but which treats favoritechannels from different media separately.

The user may be provided with the option to select a favorite channel ofany of the available media, which is added to a favorite channels list.The media type of the selected channel, such as television or audio, isalso associated with each favorite channel on the favorite channelslist. When using the program guide, the user may then be constrained toaccess only favorite channels of a single medium. Access to favoritechannels may be constrained to a preferred medium, such as the medium ofthe current channel selection.

The program guide may constrain tuning and/or display to one of aplurality of possible media types. A media type may consist of a singlemedium, such as television channels. Alternatively, the media type may aconsist of a plurality, i.e., a subset, of the available media, e.g.,television and video-on-demand channels only. Consequently, the userwould be constrained to first media favorite channels (e.g., favoritetelevision channels) and second media favorite channels (e.g., favoritevideo-on-demand channels) when in the particular media type subset.

The user may be provided with the option of displaying favorite channelsin a by-time display format option in which the list of favoriteprogramming is displayed from a selected medium only.

In a preferred embodiment, the user may be provided with the option touse a “flip” feature that tunes the user's television only to favoritechannels of the selected medium. Channels having content of other typesof media would be skipped.

The user may be provided with the option to use a “browse” feature thataccesses only to favorite channels of the selected medium.

Further features of the invention, its nature and various advantageswill be more apparent from the accompanying drawings and the followingdetailed description of the preferred embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a system in which an interactive program guide isimplemented in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of steps involved in assigning media typeinformation to channels, designating preferred media types, andproviding the user with the option of selecting favorite channels of thepreferred media type in accordance with the present invention.

FIGS. 3( a)-3(c) are illustrative channel information data in accordancewith the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an illustrative interactive program guide display screen fordisplaying and selecting favorite channels in accordance with thepresent invention.

FIG. 5 is an illustrative display screen for displaying favoritechannels in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of steps involved in designating the preferredmedia type in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart of steps involved in choosing a channel selectionoption in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an illustrative program listings display for displayingprogram listings of favorite channel of the preferred media type inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart of steps involved in selecting channels todisplay in display screen of FIG. 8 in accordance with the presentinvention.

FIG. 10 is an illustrative program listings display for displayingprogram listings with a constrained scrolling in accordance with thepresent invention.

FIG. 11 is a flow chart of steps involved in scrolling to availablechannels for the display screen of FIG. 10 in accordance with thepresent invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram of an illustrative flip feature for the programguide in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart of steps involved in selecting channels to tunein connection with the flip feature of FIG. 12 in accordance with thepresent invention.

FIG. 14 is a diagram of an illustrative browse feature for the programguide in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a flow chart of steps involved in selecting channels todisplay on a browse display feature of FIG. 14 in accordance with thepresent invention.

FIG. 16 is an illustrative interactive program guide display screen forselecting and displaying preference profiles in accordance with thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An illustrative program guide system 30 in accordance with the presentinvention is shown in FIG. 1. Main facility 32 contains a program guidedatabase 34 for storing program guide information such as program guidelistings data, pay-per-view ordering information, program promotionalinformation, channel media type for each channel, etc. Information fromdatabase 34 may be transmitted to multiple distribution facilities suchas communication facility 36 via communications links such ascommunications link 38. Only one communication facility 36 is shown inFIG. 1 to avoid overcomplicating the drawings. Each link 38 may be asatellite link, a telephone network link, a cable or fiber optic link, amicrowave link, a combination of such links, or any other suitablecommunications path. If it is desired to transmit video signals overlink 38 in addition to data signals, a relatively high bandwidth linksuch as a satellite link is generally preferable to a relatively lowbandwidth link such as a telephone line.

Communication facility 36 is a facility for providing either a one-way(i.e., broadcast) or two-way communications connection between the mainfacility and users. Communication facility 36 could include, forexample, an asynchronous transfer mode (“ATM”) switch, a cable systemhead end, a broadcast distribution facility, or a satellite distributionfacility.

The program guide information transmitted by main facility 32 tocommunication facility 36 includes program listings data for current andfuture programs. The program listings data for each program preferablyincludes the title of the program, the channel for the program, ascheduled broadcast time (start time) and an ending time (or duration).Other typical program listings data include ratings, critics ratings,descriptions, genres (sports, movies, children, etc.), actors, etc.Transmitted program information may also include advertising informationand pay program data such as pricing information for individual programsand subscription channels, time windows for ordering programs andchannels, telephone numbers for placing orders that cannot be impulseordered, etc.

Communication facility 36 distributes programming and program guideinformation to the user equipment 40 of multiple users viacommunications paths 42. Various techniques may be used to distributetelevision programming and program guide information. For example, videoand audio programming may be distributed over analog and digitaltelevision channels and digital audio channels while program guide datamay be distributed over in-band or out-of-band channels on paths 42.Data, game, and other channels may also be distributed using one or moreuni-directional or bi-directional digital channels on paths 42. Suchdigital channels may also be used for distributing televisionprogramming and other information. Multiple television and audiochannels (analog, digital, or both analog and digital) may be providedto set-top boxes 44 via communications paths 42. If desired, programlistings and other information may be distributed by one or morecommunication facilities that are similar to but separate fromcommunication facility 36 using communications paths that are separatefrom communications paths 42.

Certain functions such as pay program purchasing may require set-topboxes 44 to transmit data to communication facility 36 overcommunications paths 42. If desired, such data may be transmitted overtelephone lines or other separate communications paths. If functionssuch as these are provided using facilities separate from communicationfacility 36, some of the communications involving set-top boxes 44 maybe made directly with the separate facilities.

Each user has a receiver, which is typically a set-top box such asset-top box 44, but which may be other suitable equipment into whichcircuitry similar to set-top-box circuitry has been integrated. Programguide data may be distributed to set-top boxes 44 periodically,continuously, or on demand. Communication facility 36 may also pollset-top boxes 44 periodically for certain information (e.g., pay programaccount information or information regarding programs that have beenpurchased and viewed using locally-generated authorization techniques).Main facility 32 preferably contains a processor to handle informationcommunication tasks. Each set-top box 44 preferably contains a processorto handle tasks associated with implementing a program guide applicationon the set-top box 44. Communication facility 36 may contain a processorfor handling tasks associated with the distribution of program guidedata and other information to user equipment 40. Communication facilitymay also contain a program guide server (or be associated with such aserver located remotely from the communication facility). This programguide server may provide data and other functionality on demand to theprogram guide implemented on the user equipment, in embodiments in whichsome program guide functionality is provided remotely.

Each set-top box 44 is typically connected to an optional videocassetterecorder 46 or other suitable recording device so that selectedtelevision programs may be recorded. Each videocassette recorder 46 isconnected to a television 48 or other suitable viewing device. To recorda program, set-top box 44 tunes to a particular channel and sendscontrol signals to videocassette recorder 46 (e.g., using an infraredtransmitter) that direct videocassette recorder 46 to start and stoprecording at the appropriate times.

Each set-top box 44 is may also be connected to an audio system 52 sothat selected digital audio programs may be listened to at a higherquality than would be available using the television's built in audiosystem.

During use of the interactive program guide implemented on set-top box44, program listings and other information may be displayed ontelevision 48. Such program guide displays may be presented on top of atelevision program to which the user has tuned with set-top box 44 ormay be presented in place of such a program or may be combined on thesame screen as the television screen to which the user has tuned. Eachset-top box 44, videocassette recorder 46, audio system 52 andtelevision 48 may be controlled by one or more remote controls 50 or anyother suitable user control device such as a wireless keyboard, mouse,trackball, dedicated set of buttons, touch-screen display remote, etc.Remote controls such as remote control 50 have various buttons that maybe pressed by the user such as cursor keys (for on-screen movement of ahighlight region, scrolling functions, etc.), an enter key (for making aselection), channel number keys (for selecting a channel), a favoriteskey (for flipping from one favorite channel to another), etc.

Of the wide range of programming available to users of modern cable andsatellite systems, only a portion of which may be of interest at aparticular time. In order to locate programming of interest, programlistings data is associated with individual programs and with each ofthe channels carrying the programs. The program guide may allow the userto search the program listings using keywords. For example, each programlisting may be associated with program categories which identify thesubject matter of a program, or if applicable, of particular channels.Typical categories may include, e.g., sports, news, movies, etc. Inaddition to information concerning program content, informationconcerning the type of media of programs carried by the channels is anadditional, useful selection criteria. Many channels carry televisionmedia, as is well known. Newer available media, such as digital audio,video-on-demand, games, or data are carried by other channels. Viewing aparticular media type is indicative of the user's interest. For example,each media type may have visual displays and sound levels, as well as arequired degree of user attention/interaction, that are distinctive forthat particular type of media. A games channel may have intense visualdisplays and high sounds levels and require active user attention andparticipation. In contrast, digital audio channels may typically have novisual content and require a low level of passive user attention. It maybe confusing to the user to switch between media types during a viewingsession. Consequently, the user may prefer to restrict viewing orsearching to a single media type, particularly the media type currentlybeing viewed.

In the interactive program guide, each of the channels carriesprogramming of primarily one media type. Thus, there are televisionchannels, digital audio channels, games channels, video-on-demandchannels, data channels, etc. As will be described in greater detailbelow, the channels may be arranged in a random sequence, whereinchannels carrying the different media types are distributed throughoutthe channel sequence. When the user is selecting channels, theinteractive program guide may provide the option to the user to create afavorite channels list by the user designation of favorite channels. Thepreferred media type during a particular viewing may be ascertained fromthe user's selection of programming. The program guide may useinformation on user-designated favorite channels and the currentpreferred media type to sort the available channels. The program guidemay then constrain access to channels to favorite channels of thepreferred media type.

This process is illustrated in greater detail in FIG. 2. At step 100,program listings data is supplied to main facility 32 of FIG. 1 from oneor more data sources, such as data source 18 of FIG. 1. The programlistings data may include channel information such as channel titles,descriptions, categories or genres, etc. At step 102, each channellisting is reviewed and media type information is added to the channelinformation. According to one embodiment, the step 102 may be performedat the main facility 32. This step may be performed by an operator afterreviewing the channel information or other information. This step mayalternatively be automated by assigning media types based on key wordsappearing in the channel description in the program listings data. Ifdesired, media type information may be assigned to the program listingsprior to transmission of the program listings data from data source 18(so that steps 100 and 102 would be combined.) The channel informationmay then be supplied to the program guide from the main facility 32, ora communications facility 36. Alternatively, compilation of channelinformation database may be performed by the program guide at theset-top or program guide server, wherein information of media type isassigned to each channel based on information from other sources.

Illustrative data structures of the type that may be used by the programguide system are shown in FIGS. 3( a)-3(c). For example, channels thatbroadcast television programs or movies on a predetermined broadcastschedule may be identified in the channel database as carrying a“television” or “video” media type. FIG. 3( a) shows an illustrativedata structure 120 a carrying a media type 122 a, (e.g., television),for a channel 124 a, (e.g., HBO). FIGS. 3( b) and 3(c) show otherillustrative data structures 120 b and 120 c identified as carryingdigital audio media 122 b and games media 122 c, respectively. Otherchannels may carry video-on-demand media or data media, etc.

With continued reference to FIG. 2, the program guide may provide theuser with the option of creating a favorites channel list at step 104.The favorite channels list may store channels designated as favorites ina single list, without regard to media type. At step 106, the preferredmedia type is ascertained by the program guide. As will be described ingreater detail herein, the preferred media type may be a single mediatype or a subset consisting of a plurality of media types. Step 104 andstep 106 are independent of one another. They may be performedconcurrently or sequentially. For example, the user may create a list offavorite channels at step 104 during an initial viewing session. Thelist of favorite channels may then remain the same during subsequentviewing sessions. However, the preferred media type, determined at step106, may change during each viewing session.

Step 108 allows the viewer to select channels from a constrained list ofchannels. More particularly, when the user exercises an option ofselecting a channel, the program guide will access favorite channelsthat carry the preferred media type only. The user is provided withseveral options for selecting channels, as will be described in greaterdetail below. For example, the user may be provided with the option ofviewing a abbreviated display of program listings wherein the programguide only displays favorite channels carrying the preferred media type(FIG. 8). Alternatively, the user may be provided with the option ofviewing a display of program listings on available channels. However,the user's ability to scroll through or access channels is constrainedto favorite channels of the preferred media type (FIG. 10). According toanother option, the user is provided with the option to flip amongfavorite channels of the preferred media type (FIG. 12). The programguide may also provide the user with the option to browse among favoritechannels of the preferred media type (FIG. 14).

At step 104 of FIG. 2, the program guide may provide the user with theoption of creating a favorite channels list. In a preferred embodiment,the user may access a favorite channels selection screen, such as screen130, illustrated in FIG. 4. The favorite channels selection screen 130may provide a channels list 132, with listings 134 for each channelavailable to the user. The listing 134 may display information about thechannel, such as the channel number 136, the channel name 138, and themedia type 140 associated with the channel. As described above, thechannels may not necessarily be grouped according to media type. Cursorkeys on the user remote may be used to highlight a particular channellisting 134. The FAV key on the user remote control may be pressed inorder to select the highlighted channel as a favorite. The enter or OKkey on the user remote may be pressed to exit the favorite channelselection screen 130. As a result of the favorite channel selection,each channel listing may include an additional identifier, for example,a “favorite” designation, in addition to media type. Favoritedesignations may include any identifiers to let the user quicklyrecognize a favorite channel, and may include, for example, a captionstating “favorite” or “FAV” (see, FIG. 10). Alternatively, the channelnumber or call letters may be represented in a different color, asillustrated in FIG. 4 for a previously selected favorite channel 137 andchannel name 139. As yet another alternative, the listing box 134 may berepresented in a different color, etc. Thus, the channels listings dataprovides the program guide with a means to distinguish among differentgroups of channels, such as “favorite television channels,” “favoritedigital audio channels,” or “favorite games channels,” etc.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the user may view the favorite channelsselected hereinabove on a separate screen, such as favorite channelsscreen 142, wherein a favorite channels list 144 is displayed. It isunderstood that the above selection screens for designating anddisplaying favorite channels are represented as examples only. Thedesignation of favorite channels may be made by other methods. Forexample, designation of a favorite channel may be made by depressing theFAV key on the remote control when the set top box is tuned to thatchannel or by selecting an on-screen menu option after choosing achannel.

At step 104 of FIG. 2, the preferred media type may be communicated tothe program guide in several ways. According to a preferred embodiment,the preferred media type may be that of the current channel selection.In FIG. 6, the media type of the channel currently being viewed isdetermined at step 150. The preferred media type is set to the mediatype of the channel currently being viewed at step 152. For example, theuser may be currently watching a program on a television media channel.The preferred media type would therefore be television media. Bydesignating a preferred media type based upon the media type of thecurrent channel selection, the process of searching for additionalprogramming may be simplified in several ways. First, the user is notrequired to affirmatively designate a preferred media type. Second, theprocess of accessing channels of a single media type may be lessconfusing because the user is already predisposed to view the particularmedia type, as described above. As an alternative, the preferred mediatype may be chosen based on some other action taken by the user, such asselecting a program guide feature related to the particular media type.For example, if the user selects a Music feature in the guide, then theguide may constrain channel changing to music channels, even if the useris not currently tuned to a music channel.

The program guide may filter the available channels by favorites as wellas by media type. The resulting subset of channels narrows the availableselections in a manner that is consistent with user interest. Forexample, the program guide may constrain the number of program listingsthat are presented to the user, regardless of what type of displayformat the user has chosen to view (e.g., a by-time listing format, aby-channel listing, etc.). At step 160, the user may be provided withthe option of displaying a selection list which displays only favoritechannels of the preferred media type (FIG. 7). At step 162, the user maybe provided with the option of displaying a selection list whichdisplays available channels, but limits channel selection to favoritechannels of the preferred media type. The program guide may alsoconstrain the channels to which the user may tune. At step 164, the usermay be provided with the option of flipping between favorite channels ofthe preferred media type. At step 166, the user may be provided with theoption of browsing among favorite channels of the preferred media type.

FIG. 8 illustrates a channel selection screen 170, which may be selectedat step 160, above. In this by-time listing, program listings aredisplayed only from channels 172 that had been previously selected asfavorite channels (e.g., in a process such as that described withrespect to FIGS. 4-5). As illustrated in FIG. 9, the user requests adisplay of favorite channels of the preferred media type at step 180.The program guide advances to the next favorite channel (step 181), anddetermines if the media type associated with the favorite channel is thepreferred media type (step 182), i.e., the media type of the channelcurrently being viewed. (The preferred media type is preferably queried(step 106) at the time the particular viewing option is selected.) Ifthe favorite channel is of the preferred media type, it is added to thedisplay list at step 184. Otherwise, the program guide advances to thenext channel (step 181) and step 182 is repeated. Once the associatedmedia type of favorite channels have been checked against the preferredmedia type (step 188), the screen 170 displays favorite channels ofpreferred media type, in this case, television media (step 190).

FIG. 10 illustrates a selection screen 192 wherein the program guidedisplays program listings for channels of available media types. Channelselection of any channel, regardless of favorite status or media type,is available from screen 192. For example, channels may be selected bypressing the up or down buttons on the user remote. Similarly, if theuser enters a channel number directly on screen 192 (or any of thechannel selection screens) the guide will select the desired channel,regardless of the favorite status or media type. However, forconstrained searching of the favorite channels of the preferred mediatype, movement of the highlight region on the screen is also constrainedto favorite channels that are of the preferred media type, e.g.,television media. The searching may be constrained by pressing a NEXTFAV or FAV+ or similar key to advance to the next higher numberedfavorite channel of the matching media type. Similarly, the PREV FAV orFAV− or similar key will move to the next lower numbered favoritechannel. In such a case, channels 194 a and 194 b are not favoritechannels and would be skipped over. Channels 196 a and 196 b arefavorite channels but of a non-preferred media type, i.e., digital audioor games. Channels 198 a, 198 b, and 198 c are favorite channels of thepreferred media type, i.e., television. Thus as shown in FIG. 11, whenthe next favorite channel of the preferred media type is requested (step200), the program guide advances to the next channel (step 201) andevaluates whether the next channel in the channel sequence is a favoritechannel (step 202) and of the preferred media type (step 204). If so,the highlighted region as advanced (scrolls down) to the next channel(step 206). If the channel is not a favorite, or not of the preferredmedia type, the program guide advances to the next channel in thechannel sequence (step 201) to repeat steps 202 and 204.

The channels to which the user may tune may also be constrained when theuser is using special tuning features. For example, by selection theoption at step 164, the program guide may provide a special “flip”tuning feature (see, FIG. 12). As shown in FIG. 12, when the userinvokes the flip mode, flip display 210 is displayed along with achannel 212 (i.e., channel 4) that the user is currently tuned to and iswatching on display screen 214. In one embodiment, the flip displaypartially overlays the channel 212. In an alternative embodiment, thechannel 212 is reduced in size to display on a portion of display screen214. The flip display 210, and other information, may be displayed onthe remaining portion of display screen 214. Flip display 210 containsinformation on programs 216 appearing on channel 218. Channel 218 is thesame channel (channel 4) as the channel 212 (channel 4) to which theset-top box 44 is currently tuned. The user may change channel 204,e.g., using channel up and down keys on the remote control, which alsochanges the channel 212. The channel up and down keys will allow theuser to select the next higher or lower channel in the channel sequence.For constrained flipping of favorite channels of the preferred mediatype, the user may use the NEXT FAV (or FAV+ or similar) button and thePREV FAV (or FAV− or similar) button on the user remote. As illustratedin FIG. 13, the user requests to tune the set top box 44 to the nextfavorite channel of the preferred media type (step 250). The programguide advances to the next favorite channel (step 252) and evaluateswhether the channel is of the preferred type (step 254). If so, the settop box 44 tunes to that channel (step 256). If the next favoritechannel is not of the preferred media type, the program guide advancesto the next favorite channel (step 252).

As shown in FIG. 14, when the user invokes the browse mode at step 166,browse display 220 is displayed along with a channel 222 (i.e., channel9) which the user is currently tuned to and is watching on displayscreen 224. In one embodiment, the browse display 220 partially overlaysthe channel 222. In an alternative embodiment, the channel 222 isreduced in size to display on a portion of display screen 224. Thebrowse display 220, and other information, may be displayed on theremaining portion of display screen 224. Browse display 220 containsinformation on programs 226 appearing on different channels 228. Theuser may change channels 228 which are displayed on browse display 220by using up and down cursor keys without changing channel 222. The upand down keys will allow the user to select the next higher or lowerchannel in the channel sequence for display in browse display 220. Forconstrained browsing of favorite channels of the preferred media type,the user may use the NEXT FAV (or FAV+ or similar) button and the PREVFAV (or FAV− or similar) button on the user remote. Consequently, thechannels 228 which the user may browse through are constrained to thechannels 228 which are on the list of favorites and are of the preferredmedia type. As illustrated in FIG. 15, the user requests to view aprogram listing for the next favorite channel of the preferred mediatype (step 260). The program guide advances to the next favorite channel(step 262) and evaluates whether that channel is of the preferred mediatype (step 264). If so, that channel information is displayed on thebrowse display 220 (step 266). If the next favorite channel is not ofthe preferred media type, the program guide advances to the nextfavorite channel (step 262).

User preferences may be stored in a preference profile. Differentpreference profiles may be used by different users of the same programguide. Preference profiles are described in greater detail in U.S.patent application Ser. No. 09/034,934, incorporated by reference above.As illustrated in FIG. 16, the preference profile 300 may store thefavorite channels list 144 of a user 302. When a particular user profileis invoked the favorite channels list would become available to theinteractive program guide. Information regarding the preferred mediatype is preferably obtain during the viewing session based on thechannel currently being viewed by the user. The user would be providedwith the option of selecting channels constrained to favorite channelsof the preferred media type (step 108), as described with respect toFIG. 2, above. A second user may have the second user's preferencesstored in a second user profile, which may be accessed at any time inthe viewing session.

In an alternative embodiment, a system is provided wherein the featuresdescribed herein may be implemented on a user interface, such as aset-top box, rather than on a program guide. The set-top box may providethe user with the option of selecting a channel, and displaying eachchannel as selected. For example, user selection may be made by the upand down keys (or similar buttons) on the user remote. This would allowthe user to select and display the next higher-numbered orlower-numbered channel. The set-top box may also provide the features ofallowing the user to designate favorite channels and identifying andtuning to the next favorite channel on the channel list when the userselects the FAV key (or similar button) on the user remote.

According to this embodiment, the set-top box may be able todifferentiate between channels of different media types. For example,the set-top box may be provided with media information along with otherbasic information such as channel number or channel name or channel callletters. The set-top box may be able to provide similar features to theuser as those described above with respect to FIGS. 12-13. Moreparticularly, if the user depresses the FAV key, the set-top box willtune to the next higher-numbered channel that is a favorite and that isof the preferred media. As described above, the preferred media type maybe designated as the type of media that the user is currently viewing.

The foregoing is merely illustrative of the principles of this inventionand various modifications can be made by those skilled in the artwithout departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

1. A method for providing access to content with an interactive program guide, comprising: identifying a media type of a currently viewed channel; designating the media type as a preferred media type, wherein the media type is associated with one or more channels; allowing a user to designate at least one favorite channel for the preferred media type; and constraining navigation to only favorite channels of the preferred media type.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein designating the media type as a preferred media type further comprises automatically designating the media type based on an action taken by the user as the user browses through the interactive program guide.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein designating the media type as a preferred media type further comprises allowing the user to designate the media type as a preferred media type.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the media type is selected from a group including television, video, music, audio, video-on-demand, digital audio, and game media types.
 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying program listings for only favorite channels of the preferred media type.
 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising: displaying program listings for a plurality of channels that are provided to the user by at least one media source; and constraining navigation to only favorite channels of the preferred media type.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the at least one media source comprises one of a satellite system, a cable system, and a broadcast television system.
 8. The method of claim 6, wherein the at least one media source provides the plurality of channels to the user via at least one of a telephone network link, a satellite link, a cable link, a fiber optic link, and a microwave link.
 9. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving a user request to navigate to a channel; determining that the channel is a favorite channel of the preferred media type; and tuning to the channel in response to determining that the channel is a favorite channel of the preferred media type.
 10. The method of claim 1, further comprising: tuning to a first channel, wherein the first channel is a favorite channel of the preferred media type; presenting a display, wherein the display includes information for the first channel; receiving a user request to navigate to a second channel; and in response to determining that the second channel is a favorite channel of the preferred media type; tuning to the second channel; and updating the display to include information for the second channel.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the display is a flip display or a browse display.
 12. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing information about at least one favorite channel of the preferred media type in a preference profile.
 13. A system for providing access to content from a plurality of available media types with an interactive program guide, the system comprising user equipment configured to: identify a media type of a currently viewed channel; designate the media type as a preferred media type, wherein the media type is associated with one or more channels; allow a user to designate at least one favorite channel for the preferred media type; and constrain navigation to only favorite channels of the preferred media type.
 14. The system of claim 13, wherein the user equipment is further configured to automatically designate the media type based on an action taken by the user as the user browses through the interactive program guide.
 15. The system of claim 13, wherein the user equipment is further configured to allow the user to designate the media type as a preferred media type.
 16. The system of claim 13, wherein the media type is selected from a group including television, video, music, audio, video-on-demand, digital audio, and game media types.
 17. The system of claim 13, wherein the user equipment is further configured to display program listings for only favorite channels of the preferred media type.
 18. The system of claim 13, wherein the user equipment is further configured to: display program listings for a plurality of channels that are provided to the user by at least one media source; and constrain navigation to only favorite channels of the preferred media type.
 19. The system of claim 18, wherein the at least one media source comprises one of a satellite system, a cable system, and a broadcast television system.
 20. The system of claim 18, wherein the at least one media source provides the plurality of channels to the user via at least one of a telephone network link, a satellite link, a cable link, a fiber optic link, and a microwave link.
 21. The system of claim 13, wherein the user equipment is further configured to: receive a user request to navigate to a channel; determine that the channel is a favorite channel of the preferred media type; and tune to the channel in response to determining that the channel is a favorite channel of the preferred media type.
 22. The system of claim 13, wherein the user equipment is further configured to: tune to a first channel, wherein the first channel is a favorite channel of the preferred media type; present a display, wherein the display includes information for the first channel; receive a user request to navigate to a second channel; tune to the second channel in response to determining that the second channel is a favorite channel of the preferred media type; and update the display to include information for the second channel in response to determining that the second channel is a favorite channel of the preferred media type.
 23. The system of claim 22, wherein the display is a flip display or a browse display.
 24. The system of claim 13, wherein the user equipment is further configured to store information about at least one favorite channel of the preferred media type in a preference profile. 